Cairo, Oases and Nile Cruise Travel Package

After a tasty breakfast, we will take a trip to Giza Plateau in order to explore the revered Great Pyramid of Khufu, in addition to the Khafre and Menkaure Pyramids. Under the guidance of an Egyptologist, you will learn of how these majestic landmarks were built in the reign of the Fourth Dynasty (2589-2504 B. C.) and why they are important. Afterwards, climb up to your observation point raised above the Pyramids for panoramic views of the entire necropolis. Camel riding is an optional activity for those who are interested, and it is possible to easily ask for or arrange for them on site.

The legendary Sphinx awaits you next, symbolizing strength and wisdom. The statue is a beautiful thing: the head of a man and the body of a lion forty meters long and twenty meters high, conveniently hunched next to the pyramids between its paws. The impietuous flow of time has washed away its lips, broken asunder its beard, and now lies the hands resting on its haunches folded to bless the dear children of Egypt, wherever they may be. The huge platform of the Sphinx makes a kind of winding forever to the pyramid--a kind of lusory transition while escaping the shallowness of mere realism. The vistas of the Sphinx weave the kingdom of the dead amidst the realm of life.

The other subject in the tapestry had to be the valley in which the city was settled, but from there the vegetation was the lead. It is quite strange to encounter the unadorned rows of weatherbeaten banana gardens (Coptic grapes, dates); hills of the European variety, beautifully tuned for an armistice with the sanguinarous mass of the city. Sunshine inches as our opponents filled trams which meander down the broad-chambered veins of Cairo! A clipping machine, roots shoveled clean and illuminated in rainbow color; the free-flowing blood coursing tirelessly down robbled streets leading to a cobbled monument (coronation of feudal age).

The next stop of the tour will be the Cathedral of St. Mark in the adjacent area, sometimes referred to as the Coptic Cathedral. Later, you'll visit Khan El-Khalili Bazaar with your guide.

Post lunch, you will be driven to Islamic Cairo to visit Khan El Khalili bazaar. The busy market, located in the Al-Hussein district, is one of the oldest markets in Cairo and makes for a perfect ending to the Islamic Cairo tours.

You are going back for your hotel's night-long stay in Cairo.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.

After your breakfast, you will be checking out from your hotel in Cairo at 6:00 a.m. for the commencement of an Egyptian desert safari and adventure. A professional guide will be waiting at the lobby to chauffeur you in a deluxe car on the approximately four-hour long journey to the beautiful Bahariya Oasis.

Upon arrival, the first stop is the Golden Mummies Museum. Here, you will have the opportunity to see mummies covered with gold. This amazing exhibition offers an insight into the long process leading to funerary customs in the Bahariya Oasis during the 26th dynasty.

Now is the turn of the Noble Necropolis, where administrators overseeing the Bahariya Oasis lay to rest. Nearby, you'll get to see the grand Temple of Alexander the Great, with Alexander the Great himself suggesting offerings to the Amun-Re deity so revered in the Bahariya Oasis during the Greco-Roman era. The temple ostensibly could serve as a pilgrimage set up by Alexander the Great en route to the Oracle Temple in Siwa Oasis, the reality of the matter or otherwise.

Upon sightseeing after that, tourists will be taken towards the Temple of Meftella in Al-Qasr village. This spot derives its name from the spring called Meftella, lying slightly northeast of the cemeteries.

Noon meals will be relished, courtesy of a traditional Bedouin house, where the taste of local culture will be gratefully savored.

You will, subsequently, enjoy a time for relaxation at the hotel, perhaps at the pool itself. By the time the sun is setting, you will experience the excitement of a 4WD Jeep tour to the Black Mountain where you get to walk to the top of the high hill and have a mesmerizing panoramic view overlooking the Bahariya Oasis.

The night will come as you take the remaining moments to marvel at the views of the far away other-world standing, while your stay will become one with the fascinating desert landscape in Bahariya.

After having a feasting traditional breakfast, your serene tour in Bahariya Oasis goes to view the picturesque natural wonders. Starting off with the peaceful salt lake, strolling in those palms, and having a taste of peacefulness on those very visible scenic landscapes.

Next, you'll make a roughly 170 km drive southward to the splendorous White Desert. As its name suggests, this extraordinary desert, covering some 3010 square kilometers, is bordered in blinding white for nearly all its enchanting space. These reserves are distinguished by the numerous white chalky rocks, shaped and crunched into wonderful forms by gales of sand that occasionally sweep across these regions.

On your way to the White Desert, you will travel through the Black Desert always reflecting a dramatic display of volcanic hills that erupted centuries ago providing a contrasting sight to the surroundings. You would also take a tour of El Haize Valley, the farthest village south in Bahariya, long famous for mystical natural breezes.

Moreover, the tour will take you to the Crystal Mountain, a beautiful and eerie place within the new age oasis. This unusual destination is known for its star-like quartz crystals and very high environmental value, presenting one of the most enthralling scenes that will rest upon somebody's memory.

Your next destination will be the grand Agabat Valley.

The sun is preparing to set as you approach rest at your campsite in the White Desert, surrounded by magical limestone formations, with the iconic rabbit and mushroom shapes visible from miles away. Here, you will have a mouth-watering Bedouin dinner, losing yourself in the erstwhile quiet admiration of this otherworldly desert landscape.
 

Having spent the night in the unutterably beautiful White Desert, you continue the exploration today by heading to invigorating Farafra Oasis. Situated only around 170 km to the south out of the Bahariya Oasis, Farafra remains 627 km to the southwest of Cairo.

Here, when you arrive in Farafra, you will have the chance to take a dip into the hot waters of the Bir Setah Saieda hot spring, offering some much needed relaxation. You will visit a unique museum—the mud brick museum of the artist Badr. Complete with myriad modern art artifacts, the museum will satisfy your modern Caryatid leanings even whilst evoking a deeper appreciation for the creative spirit of this region.

Continuing your journey now, you will continue on to the ancient village of Al Qasr situated in the midst of the desert in Egypt and is to be known as one of the oldest archaeological cities. This historic site provided a significant meeting point for the ancient transportation routes.

From Al Qasr, you will drive around 3 hours to Deir El Hagar, the Roman Temple that is typical of the smaller temples in Egypt. The temple at El Hagar, made of cut sandstone, is characterized by fascinating relief carvings and inscriptions from Pharaonic religious texts, which were generally intended for the worship of the god Amun (or Amon), his accompanying goddesses Mut and other gods, and the son of Amun, Khonsu.

Afterwards, one will walk through the magnificent Roman burial ground by the name of Muzzawaqa, and see some of the most beautiful rock-cut tombs Egypt has ever produced. Delicious refreshments will then come after a lunch break, and you would take an interesting stroll amidst the less seen old Islamic village of Al Qasr. Witnessing its narrow-covered streets originating from the 12th century AD, the very well-preserved old houses, ancient oil press, wheat grinder, court, prison, school and yet another Ayyubide mosque is a unique experience.

You will be spending an afternoon lazing beside a swimming pool, actually observing from the oasis as the vegetation of Dakhla with its clear blue skies and golden dunes unfolds. Of course, nothing can surpass sitting at the edge of the Great Sand Sea, watching a captivating sunset while sipping on delightful Bedouin tea.

The day will tick-tock by in luxury, which is largely owing to your stay at the cliff-housed desert lodge of Dakhla that will offer genuinely magnificent views of the verdant village shielded by dunes and the awesome pink sienna mountain range, with which probably its mesmerizing beauty struggles with.

Your day with breakfast finds you feasting in Kharga, the greatest of the Oases, which lies 232 kilometers south of Assiut. The New Valley Governorate's center, El Kharga, stands as the hub of monuments ancient, natural springs, and other colorful tourist attractions.

The overture suggests that you halt the sites of the ancient Roman fortress of Qasr El Labkha from circa AD 5th. Subsequently, the Kharga Museum can provide instant viewing by presenting to you the awesome display of Pharaonic, Ptolemaic, Roman, and Christian artifacts.

Later, you will experience the Hibis and Nadora temples, the Roman Temple, which was built in Roman times, beginning in the reign of Antoninus Pius or Hadrian. As a result, the temple becomes embodiment of the fusion of the various historical periods affecting this region—Pharaonic, Persian, Ptolemaic, and Roman.

After continued exploration, you will be visiting the oldest cemetery in the area, Bagawat, known by the well-preserved biblical decorations from the Old Testament chapels.

At the Baris Oasis, which has existed since 5000 BC and was dedicated to the Greek god Serapis, you will have lunch and touring. Here, you will get to see the remnants of an old Roman colony that became a city in the middle of a flourishing community, securing the forty-day route when it was in use. See the remnants of the whole residential area with mud buildings and the goddess Isis and god Serapis temple.

For the remainder of the evening, you will embark on a memorable and unique desert camping experience amongst the golden dunes of Kharga Oasis, indulging in a peaceful and mesmerizing desert evening.

After the brilliant journey through the magical oases of Egypt, the historic city of Luxor appears-giving you joy. It is located about 670 kilometers south of Cairo. The desert takes 6 hours to cross until the classic city is reached along with its splendid scenes that are bound to make happy memories.

Upon arrival in Luxor, you will then check-in and grab lunch on your luxurious 5-star cruise ship-the Steigenberger MS Minerva. The gloomy giant Karnak Temple Complex stands far and wide till your late afternoon, amidst the crumbling stonework of temple ruins, gigantic pillars, and grandiose structures scattered as broken tiles. Karnak was a major seat of devotion to the gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu-a largest man-made religious complex on Earth.

You continue your trip to the magnificent Temple of Luxor, a great sanctum constructed with sandstone from a quarry situated in the locale of Gebel el-Silsila in Egypt. The fall of the evening would wade you back to your cruise ship on the Nile, where, beneath the starry Egyptian night sky, a luscious dinner, entertainment, and a splendid music show will form the closing imprints on this tour case on the West Bank of the Nile River. Expecting the next stage of your great Egyptian adventure, you peacefully retire on the Nile cruise ship.

After you have enjoyed breakfast onboard your Nile Cruise, your guide will take you to the West Bank of Luxor for a jaw-dropping view of the two massive statues of Amenhotep III, known as Colossi of Memnon. These most popular sights guarded the ancient city of Thebes (modern Luxor) for centuries, confirming Egypt's glorious past.

You will move on to the Valley of the Kings, the most famous necropolis on the west bank of the Nile, facing the ancient city of Thebes. It is divided into the west valley and the east one and is known as the doorstep of the kings called Biban el-Muluk. Then one can wander through the famous rock-cut tombs of pharaohs such as the celebrated tomb of King Tutankhamun, who reigned over Egypt as a pharaoh for just 10 years before his death at the age of 19. Moreover, you will see the tomb of Ramses II, who fought against the Battle of Kadesh, the most renowned conflict of his reign.

These tombs, embellished exuberantly with lovely paintings, boast the treasures that the pharaohs intended to savor in their afterlife. To continue your wonderful experience, go to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, also known as the El Deir El Bahary Temple, which commemorates the undying pharaoh of female power.

After this exquisitely genuine ancient feeling that inspires the heart of Luxor, you can enjoy an excellent lunch before setting sail for Edfu, appreciating a slow dinner on the cruise held on the river. Accompanied by the setting sun casting suffused and blushing shades, you gently set sail off to sleep in the arms of the dip and sway of the lively Nile and awaken to your next Egyptian unravel.

After having a nice breakfast on your cruise boat sailing the Nile River, you will leave Kom Ombo for the inland city of Edfu, in the northern part of the Aswan Governorate. Edfu is the second-largest town in the governorate and lies to the south of illustrious Luxor.

The Temple of Edfu dedicated to the falcon-headed god, Horus, built during the Ptolemaic period, is well preserved. Second in size only to the Temple of Karnak, this structure amazes with its rich historical and cultural relevance.

Upon the exploration of the Temple of Horus at Edfu, you will return to your cruise boat once more, embarking northward to the notable Kom Ombo Temple. This is a Graeco-Roman temple built to honor Sobek, the god of crocs, and is an extraordinary reminiscent of great architecture and history.

During the trip to Kom Ombo, you might enjoy onboard great lunch, savoring the flavor of the region while observing the indolent Nile's views.

Once the tour of the Kom Ombo Temple is over, the cruise heads towards the city of Aswan. With daylight being over, you have dinner on board as the Nile's gentle lapping noises help put you to sleep at night, while your mind races in preparation for the next chapter of an Egyptian story.

In the morning, after having breakfast, visit Aswan and see the High Dam, which lies on the border between Egypt and Sudan to the north and is considered by many as an engineering marvel and among the most significant projects in modern Egyptian history. It also includes an awe-inspiring Philae temple, constructed possibly during either Greek or Roman periods and devoted to Goddess Isis who is famous for healing and remarkable magic. Arrive in a motorboat and listen to stories of the isle and hit the sights. There is also a visit to see the largest discovered Unfinished Obelisk within the granite quarries of Aswan, being an hour tour remaining day. The Unfinished Obelisk is known as one of the tallest obelisks in Egypt.

Have dinner as it's your last night on the magnificent Nile Cruise. Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Have a breakfast on the Nile cruise and then disembark at Aswan for some leisurely time to explore around the city. Alternatively, avail of an optional excursion to the fabled Abu Simbel Temples of bright structural beauty, a testament to Pharaoh Ramses II and his consort, Queen Nefertari.

From Aswan, you shall proceed to the Abu Simbel sites in a bus with your Capital E experience. You are then at freedom to revere these sights of grandeur. This optional tour would be a peculiar incidence of realizing the historic and cultural heritage of Egypt.

When ending the things in Aswan after a long program, you will be shuttled to the train station for your night train to Cairo. During that time, a good dinner will be served to let you relax and refresh in your private cabin while you travel in comfort for the night.

As you make your way back to the bustling capital city of Cairo, this trip in an overnight train marks the final stave of your epic Nile cruise journey. Behind you will be memories of the grand temples, the tranquil Nile, and the warmth of hospitality that Egypt bestowed upon you during your stay. You will be set for the next stage of your Egyptian exploration.

Arrive at the station just in time for a nice, full breakfast before kick-starting your day anew. Our representative will meet you upon disembarkation and assist with transfer to your hotel in Cairo, where an early check-in can be arranged when available: an effort of preparation by relaxation for the latter part of your amazing effort to pass from the Nile cruise to the pulsating city of Cairo.

Breakfast and check-in covered, take the rest of the day to unwind, ready for the detailed exploration of the ancient landmarks of Cairo to follow. The visit to Cairo will more or less be the climax of the whole Egyptian adventure.